Method and apparatus for controlling the siphon in liquid-fuel-burning systems



2 sheetssheet 1 R. w w L UCL 13, 1925- lm'aon AND APPARATUS Fon cQNTnoLLmG THE smxon 1N LIQUID FUEL BURNING 'SYSTEMS -Lio lGASEGS FUEL BUR-TZ] Patented ct. 13, 1925.

uNlTlsD STATES 1,557,488 PATENT oFFICE. i

LnPon'r n. van SANT, or TEORIA, ILLINOIS.

1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONT-ROLLING THE' SIPHON IN LIQID-FUEL-BURNNG l l, v SYSTEMS.

Application led December 11, 1924. Serial No. 755,176.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnron'r R. VAN SANT, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Method and Apparatus for Controlling the Siphon in Liquid-Fuel- Burning Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention has reference to. liquid fuel burners adapted for use in connection with the home, or for commercial purposes, and of the type including a reservoir for the fuel located preferably underground and having its discharge outlet preferably' at a point above the plane of the burner.

lThe principal object of the invention has reference to a method and `apparatus for creating a siphonic-action in thefuel system and controlling the same.

It is now generally known that oil burners which are used as heating plants for home, or commercial uses, use fuel oil, kerosene, distillate or gas oil, `and fuel storage for themany different types of burners has its various locations; as in some cases, being placed v at a distance from the burner in a reservoir underground. and at differentdepths, depending upon the method employed to supply the burner with fuel and in other cases having the fuel reservoir installed in the basement of the home or dwelling in close proximity to the burner, which is dangerous due to possible leakage of the fuel and catching fire.

Of the types ofv fuel .burning equipment now in general use, different methods of supplying the fuel to the burner are employed. It is generally known that the vacuum system is employed in connection with some burners, being substantially the same in operation as the vacuum system used on practically all automobiles, to feed and control the fuel supply from the reservoir tothe-burner, as itis needed. The location ofthe fuel reservoir employing the vacuum system, t-o supply fuel to the burner, is immaterial and may be placed in the ground either above or below the plane of the burner. This method, however, of supplying fuel to the burner requires costly equipment and has many operating parts which need care and adjustment for perfect operation. The"Y vacuum system is not an entirely safe lone from the viewpoint of leakage of fuelin the fuel lines, due to a"y break or leak therein, and if such a break or leak should appear would continue tooperate creating a fire hazard in the home or dwelling. v

There are other types of fuel burning equipment which depend upon a gravity feed to supply the burner with fuel from the reservoir and in such equipments the discharge outlet of the fuel reservoir must naturally be above the plane of the burner, regardless of the location of the reservoir, which in some instances is found placed underground at a distance from the burner, or in the basement of the home or dwelling. At a glance, it is obvious that this method of supplying the burner with fuel is the most dangerous and is the method now most generally employed. In case of a leak or break in the fuel lines there is always the danger of draining the contents of the reservoir into the basement of the home or dwelling due to the lack of means for controlling, the same.

This invention relates therefore, mo-re particularly to a type of fuel burner including the usual fuel reservoir, wherein the supply of fuel depends upon a siphonicaction being created in the fuel line between the reservoir and the burner, the unused excess fuel being pumped by a supply pump to the fuel reservoir and caused to make its passageway through the controlling device forming the subject matter of this invention.

This invention has for a further object to provide a supply of fuel from the fuel reservoir to the burner and to create and maintain a siphonic-action in the fuel supply line and to return the unused excess fuel through a controlling means in the return fuel line which, if at any time there occurs a leak or break in either the fuel supply line or the return fuel line, will destroy the siphonio-action in the fuel supply line and prevent the burner from obtaining its usual supply of fuel for burning and prevent the same from leaking its way into the basement of a dwelling and causing a fire hazard.

The invention comprehends the combination of any Well known type of fuel burner used for heating purposes in the home or elsewhere, with a fuel reservoir located preferably underground and at a distance from the burner and having a fuel supply line leading from the fuel reservoir to the burner and a return fuel line leading from the burner to the fuel reservoir, the latter returning the unused excess fuel to the reservoir by means of a pump, and a controlling means located preferably at some point in the return fuel line, between the fuel reservoir and the burner, and having associated with it a connecting line leading from the controlling means to a suitable point in the fuel supply line.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and forming a part of this description, in which Figure 1 is a greatly reduced side elevation and a more or less diagramma-tic view, partly in cross section, showing a fuel reservoir located outside of a building and underground and connected to a fuel burner by means of fuel lines and associated therewith a controlling means-located in the return fuel line preferably inside of the building, also a pump and burner and heater or furnace shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a section through the controllingr means embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail, as the same would appear if talren on the line 3-3, Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, except that the controlling means is located outside of the building and near the top of the fuel reservoir.

Lilie characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The invention to be described herein is shown used in connection with any well known type of oil burner and there has been no attempt to show the detailed construction of the burner or its operating parts, except the general outline of the pump and atomizer controlling the ejection of fuel into the furnace, and it is to be understood that the invention is capable of operation and use in connection with any of the well known types of oil burners or grades of fuel.

The fuel reservoir or container is designated 1 and is shown in Figures 1 and 4 located underground and surrounded by a suitable encasement 2 and supported by a standard 3. At or near the top of the fuel reservoir is an air vent 4, of any well known construction, to enable the injection or ejection of air into the fuel reservoir. Depending from the bottom of the reservoir is a flange into which a suitable nipple is threaded and on the lower end of said nipple is an elbow connecting a horizontal fuel supply pipe 5 which extends through the encasement 2, the earth 6 and the foundation wall 7 of a dwellinginto the basement thereof where it takes a vertical direction upward, at the elbow 3, and joins the T 9 which is preferably located at a point above the normal level of the fuel in the reservoir 1, said T 9 being connected by the nipple 1() and T 11 which is provided with a plug for priming the fuel lines. rfhe fuel supply pipe 5 from the T 11 takes a vertically downward Vdirection and near the fioor of the basement of the home or dwelling is intercepted by an adjustable globe valve 13 and from there continues through the floor to an elbow where it turns to a horizontal position to another elbow where it proceeds upward again through the basement floor and connects to a union 14 and unites to a suitable force pump 15 which is enclosed by the burner enclosure 16.

The fuel supply line 5 has preferably two check valves 17 of any well known construction, one being located near the reservoir 1 and the other located between the elbow S and T 9 to prevent the return of fuel to the reservoir. An adjustable valve 18 is located in the fuel supply pipe 5, preferably as shown in the drawings, near the fuel reservoir and has for its object to retard the flow or supply of fuel to the pump, to be further explained.

19 designates the return fuel pipe to the reservoir and terminates in a vertical direction from the pump in a T 20 where a p0rtion of the fuel is directed into a smaller pipe 21 leading into the atomizer and valve 22 where it is forced into the pipe 23 and fired in the furnace 24, shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 4. The unused and excess ,portion of fuel which is not atomized and tired is forced under pressure of the pump 15 through the T 2O into the pipe 19 and takes the direction shown by the arrows underneath the basement floor and up again to an adjustable globe valve 13 from which point adpipemmnclmlargerwinndlter ec'ec and extends vertically upward to a 26 and such pipe 25 is connected to a controlling means 27 by means of a nipple 28. The purpose of the larger sized pipe 25, between the adjustable globe valve 13 and the T 26 will be further explained. Extending upwardly from the controlling means 27 is a short pipe 29 including the T 30 provided with a plug 31 for cleaning purposes and said pipe 29 extends horizontally from the T 30 and then downwardly from an elbow 32 into the uppermost portion of the T 9 in the fuel supply line The valves 13 and 13 are located at.convenient points and are adapted for shutting ofil the supply of fuel from the burner whenever desirable or during the summer months or for repairs.

Bepending from the controlling means 27 is a suitable nipple 33 uniting with an elbow 34 and extending horizontally from. said elbow is a return fuel pipe 35 which passes through the foundation wall 7, the earth 6, the encasement 2 and connecting with a T 36 which is provided with a plug 37 for cleaning purposes. From the T 36 depends a suitable nipple 38 threaded into a flange 39 which is connected to the reservoir 1.

Extending upwardly from the T 26, at the controlling means, is an air pipe 40 which passes out through the foundation wall 7 and is provided with a return bend 41 at its exposed outer end through which air is supplied to the controlling means, in case of a break or leak in the fuel lines, which will result in the controlling means breaking or intercepting the siphonic-action in the supply fuel line 5 in a manner to be explained.

The controlling means 27, best seen in Figure 2, includes a major or inlet chamber 42 with which the return fuel pipe 28 communicates and said chamber or inlet is separated from a minor or exhaust chamber 43 by preferably an angular dividing wall 44 having an overflow opening 45 in the uppermost portion thereof and a small discharge opening 46 in the lower ,portion thereof which is preferably shown directly in line with and over the discharge opening leading into the return fuel pipe 35. Depending from the inner upper wall of the controlling means, or preferably the major or inlet chamber 42 thereof is a pipe 47 of rather small diameter which connects with the pipe 29 and is in communication with the pipe 33 through the discharge opening 46 in the dividing wall of said controller.

Under normal operating conditions, the

pump when started will force fuel into the* pipes 19, 25, T 26, pipe 28 and into the major or inlet chamber 42 of the controlling device and when said chamber overflows the fuel will be forced through the opening in the dividing wall and into the minor or exhaustl chamber 43 and thence into the return fuel pipes 33 and 35 and back again into the fuel reservoir.

If for any reason the pump is stopped the fuel will naturally cease to flow in the entire system and will discontinue to overflow through the opening 45 from the major or inlet chamber 42 into the minor or exhaust chamber 43 and will then drain direct from the major or inlet chamber through the small discharge opening 46, completely draining the controlling means of its contents resulting in destroying the siphon action in the system by admitting air into the controlling means.

It will be understood that, if upon priming the fuel lines at the plug 12 and by the aid of the pump priming the return fuel line 19 and filling the same to aV point in the enlarged pipe 25 within a very short distance of the T 26 that, upon the starting of the pump 15, it will practically simultaneously start a siphonic-action in the supply fuel line by forcing the fuel into the the controlling means through the fuel line and fill the chambers 42 and 43 thereof; such fuel thereby re-entering the reservoir and preventing the possibility of air entering the controlling means through the air pipe 40 which would by such air gaining entrance into the chambers break the siphonic-action and prevent the pump from obtaining fuel.

The enlargement of the return fuel pipe at 25 increases the efficiency of the controlling means in that by the use of such pipe the controlling means will operate more quickly, successfully and effectively in case of a break or leak in the fuel lines. It is intended that theV pipe 25 between the Valve 13 and the T 26 and preferably at an elevation above the burner shall have a greater area for containing fuel than the entire fuel supply line to the furnace or heater. For the reason, that should a break or leak appear at a point between the controlling means and the pump, the leak or break, if small, would not interrupt the siphonic-action to any great degree with the pump in operation, but when the pump shall have stopped by reason of the thermostat, which is quite often, the leak or break if large or small would quickly drain the return fuel line 19 or 25 and when the pump is started again by the thermostat the fact that a sufficient quantity of fuel had been lost and by reason of the area of the pipe 25 over equalling the area of the supply fuel line 5 the controlling means would not be filled with fuel when the pump was started again and would either suck air from the reservoir through the pipe 35, providing it had drained quickly enough of fuel to obtain air from the reservoir, or from the quicker source through the pipe 4() from the outside of the house or dwelling, thereby sucking air into the controlling means and into the fuel supply line 5 by way of pipe connection 29 resulting in the breaking of the siphonic-action in the fuel supply line and causing the pump to suck air instead of fuel and relieving the owner of the house or dwelling from having the basement flooded with fuel. The pump would continue to operate sucking air and pumping air until stopped by the thermostat or discovered by an attendantwho noticing the fuel being shut 0H would investigate the trouble and repair the break or leak in the fuel lines. t is obvious that to again operate the equipment and circulate the fuel it will be necessary to prime the system at the plug 12.

The purpose of the valve 18 is to retard and decrease the volume of fuel to be sucked by the pump through the fuel supply line which in eect. tends to create a vacuum in such fuel supply line, and is initially adjusted to control the volume of fuel supplied to the pump, dependent upon the capacity of the p'ump. If a break or leak should appear in the fuel supply line during the operation of the pump and preferably a small leak or break, the pump would naturally obtain air to a limited extent and such inflow of air act as an obstruction to the fuel at such break or leak and minimize the possibility of any great amount of fuel leaking or draining away due to the suction of the pump. During the interval when the pump and fuel are stationary, stopped by the thermostat, the fuel would leak away due to such break or leak in the fuel supply line and upon the starting of the pump again by the thermostat, the controlling means lacking fuel in its chambers would admit air caused by the suction of the pump and destroy the possibility of the pump to create and maintain a siphonic-action in the fuel supply line 5. The pump would not obtain its fuel until the break or leak was repaired and the system again primed at the plug 12.

The plug 3l is for the purpose of cleaning the small pipe i7 and small opening 46 in the controlling means which is made possible by inserting a wire therethrough and loosening any foreign particles which might have become lodged therein. Such a thing happening could be lessened, however, by providing screens in suitable locations in the supply and return fuel lines.

The modified form shown in Figure 4 it will be understood is substantially the same as that. shown in Figure l, except that the controlling means is shown located within the encasement 2 and connected in the system near the top of the fuel reservoir. The specific air connection is lacking in this figure and is unnecessary in view of the fact that should the controlling means not be filled immediately 'upon the starting of the motor, due to a break or leak in the fuel lines, the motor will suck air from the outside of the reservoir which is supplied by the air vent 4t, and as previously described, prevent the pump creating and maintaining a siphonic-action in the supply fuel line 5. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that with the controlling means in the position shown in Figure 4 it will serve its purpose just as efciently and quickly should any break or leak, large or small, appear at any point which would, if not present, permit fuel to seek its way into the basement by such leak or break and cause a fire hazard.

During the interval when the pump is not in operation, should there develop a leak or break in the fuel lines the controlling means detects the same upon the starting of the motor and breaks the siphonic-action by sucking airy' into the fuel lines preventing the pump obtaining a supply of fuel from the fuel reservoir, until the break or leak has been repaired' and the fuel lines primed for further operation. i

'.The operation of the controlling means may be briefly described, as follows After the installation of the complete fuel burning equipment, together with the controlling means, in the manner shown in the drawings, it is obvious that the fuel line should be primed from the fuel reservoir to the fuel pump and the return fuel line partially filled, or filled to within a very short distance from the controlling means so that, when the pump is started manually, or by means of a thermostat, as is more often the case, the pump will withdraw or suck the fuel from the reservoir tending to create a siphonic-action of the fuel from the reservoir in the fuel supply line and supply the same to the burner, where it is customary to atomize the same for successful burning. rlhe fuel being discharged from the p'ump under pressure and the atomizer being controlled by a valve it is only possible for a small portion of the fuel'to be consumed and the remaining portion is returned or pumped through the fuel return line and the controlling means to the reservoir. The priming of the return fuel line, before operation, to a point within a short distance of the controlling means is necessary for the reason, that when the pump is started it will be necessary for the fuel to almost immediately enter the controlling means and the major or inlet chamber thereof and fill the same, then overflow into the minor or exhaust chamber and through the same into the reservoir. The return of the excess fuel from the pump to the reservoir, through the controlling means is continuous, until the house or dwelling reaches its set temperature when it is discontinued by the shutting off of the power by hand or by the thermostat and in such case it will be seen that the fuel in the entire system will cease flowing and the controlling means drain itself through the small opening in the lower portion of the major or inlet chamber into the reservoir. The fuel in the return fuel line 25 remains within a short 'distance of the controlling means which will be again filled with 'fuel by the starting of the pump by hand or the fall of temperature in the house or dwelling and the resulting automatic 0peration of the thermostat. It will be apparent by referring to the drawings, that when the fuel is being pumped under normal operating conditions to the controlling means and into the major or inlet chamber thereof and through the overflow that the fuel excludes air from the controlling means and by returning it. vto the reservoir completes lll() an intact circuit of fuel in the fuel system and insures the burner with a constant supply of fuel.

It will be apparent that during the operation of the pump when the fuel is caused to circulate through the fuel lines, the fuel entering the controlling means will be partially sucked up through the pipe 47 from the chamber 42 and by reason of the suction created by the pump the fuel is caused to pass through the pipe 29 and into the`fuel supply pipe 5 at the T 9 and upon the cessation of the pump s'uch flow of fuel will stop.

- `What I claim is 1. The method of feeding fuel to` a liquid burner, consisting in elevating the liquid fuel from a source of supply to a higher ling means being arranged to automatically level, returning surplus fuel to the supply from the burner, admitting air to* the yfuel at the uplift side of the fuel feed yupon the return of a subnormal quantity of the fuel, and providing a liquid 'fuel seal against air admission upon the return of a normal quantity of fuel.

2. In a liquid fuel burning system including a fuel containing reservoir, a burner, a pump and fuel lines between the reservoir and burner, of a controlling means connect ed with the fuel line between the pump and reservoir and in communication with an air supply, said controlling means being arranged to automatically drain itself of fuelon the cessation of the pump and to replace K the fuel with air from the air supply, and

adapted to receive fuel on the operation of the pump to displace the air and create a siphonic-acton in the fuel lines.

3. In a liquid fuel burning system including a fuel containing reservoir, a burner, a pump and supply and return fuel lines between the reservoir and burner, of a controlling means connected with the fuel line between the pump and reservoir and in com munication with an air supply, said controldrain itself of fuel on the cessation of the pump and to replace the fuel with air from the air supply, and adapted to receive fuel on the operation of the pump to displace the air and create a siphonic-action in the fuel lines, and means in the return fuel line between the burner and the controlling means having a greater fuel area than the area of the normal fuel lines adapted in the event of a break or leak in the normal fuel lines to retard the flow of fuel to the controlling means whereby the suction created by the pump will suck air through the controlling means and system displacing the fuel sup- Ply combination with the fuel supply and pump, of a fuel supply line between the supply and pump, a return line between the pump 4.. In a liquid fuel burning system, lin

and supply, a controlling means connected with the return line and in communication' with an air supply, said controlling means being located at an elevation in relation to the supply to drain thereinto on the stoppage of the pump resulting in the displacement of the fuel in the controlling means with air, and arranged for the receiving and passage of fuel therein on the operation of the pump resulting in the displacement of the air by the fuel and the creation of a siplionic-action in the system.

5. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with the fuelpqly and mnp, of a fuel supply line between the supply and pump, @we between the pump and supply, a contnollimg'means connected with the return line and in communication wit-l1 an air supply, said controlling means being located at an elevation in relation to the supply to drain thereinto on the stoppage ofv the pump resulting in the displacement of the fuel in the controlling means with air, and arranged for the receiving and passage of fuel therein on the operation of the pump resulting in the displacement of the air by the fuel and the creation of a siphonicaction in the system, and an enlargement of the return fuel line between the pump and controlling means to retard the flow of the fuel to the controlling means, whereby when a break or leak occurs in the fuel lines the suction of air through the controlling means and the system will displace the fuel and break the siphonic-action.

6. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a fuel reservoir and a pump, of a fuel supply line between the res ervoir and pump, a return fuel line between the pump and reservoir, a controlling member connected with said return fuel line and having communication with said reservoir and an air supply, and means within the controlling means to insure the exclusion of air therein on the operation of the pump and the passage of fuel therethrough, whereby a siphonic-action may be created and maintained through said controlling means.

7. In a liqnjLfuel/burning system, in combination with a fuel reservoir and a pump, of a fuel supply line between the reservoir and pump, a return fuel line between the pu1np and 1;eservoir, a controlling member connected with said retnrn'fuel line and having communication with said reservoir and an air`supp ly, means within the controlling means to insure tlie exclusion of air therein on the operation of the pump and the passage of fuel therethrough, whereby a siphonic-action may be created and maintained through said controlling means, and means in the return fuel line to retard flow of fuel to the controlling means thereby to detect a break or leak in the lines by the suction of the air through the controlling means and the breaking of the siphonicaction in the system.

8. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a fuel reseryoir, a pump, and supply and return lines between the reservoir and pump embodying a `si 4hon, means for controlling the Siphon in sai fuel lines and in communication therewith, said means ope-rating to break the Siphon when a subnormal flow of fuel is passing through said lines, and means in the supply line for controlling the volume of fuel passing from the reservoir to the pump,

9. In a liquid Wfuel burning system, in combination with a fuel reservoirV and pump, of a fuel supply line between the reservoir and pump, a return fuel line between the pump Kand reservoir, a controlling means connected with said fuel lines, means within the controlling means to insure the exclusion of air |therefrom on the operation of the pump and the passage of fuel therethrough under normal operating conditions, whereby a siphonc-action may be created and maintained through said controlling means, and means in the supply line for controlling the volume of fuel passing from the reservoir toI the pump.

l0. In a. liquid fuel vburning system, in combination with a fuel reservoir, a pump, and supply and return fuel lines between the reservoir and pump, means for controlling the siphoinic-action in said fuel lines and in communication therewith and with an air supp-ly, said controlling means being arranged for the admission of air into the system .to break the siphonic-ac-tion therein, bio-th upon the stoppage of the pump and als@ upon the passage of a. limited flow of fuel through the contro-lling means during the operation of the pump in event of a leal; in the system.

1l. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a pump, a feed line connecting the latter to the former, and includingl a section disposed abo-ve the level of the fuel in the reservoir through which the pump lifts the fuel from the reservo-ir, a surplus line leading from the pump', a communicating passage between the surplus line and the feed line, and an air vent communicating with the passage and sealed by the liquid fuel when the flow through the surplus line is normal.

12. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a. pump, a feedline connecting the fimer toi the latterI and including a section elevated 'above the fuel level in the reservoir, a surplus line leading from thek pump, a slow-draining liquid trap connected to the surplusaline, an air vent sealed by the liquid in the trap when the surplus flow 1s normal, and a connecting passage between the trap and the feed line.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal thisI 9th day of December, 1924;.

LEPORT R. VAN SANT. 

